Fantasy Junction

Description

1965 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

VIN – 194675S102547
Exterior Color – Goldwood Yellow
Interior Color – Black Leather
Engine – 327 cu. in. 350 hp V8
Engine No. – S102547 F0826HT
Transmission – 4-Speed Manual
Rear Gearing – 3.55 Positraction
Current Miles – 95,119 miles

Highlights of this Corvette

- One of 1,275 1965 Corvette convertibles produced in Goldwood Yellow
- Matching number engine and 4-speed transmission
- Three California owners since delivered new in December 1964
- Comprehensively restored with improvements to suspension and drivetrain

VIN Decode

1 – Chevrolet
9 – Corvette
4 – V8 Engine
67 – Convertible
5 – 1965 Year
S – St. Louis assembly plant
102547 – Build number

Trim Tag Decode

Style – 65 467, 1965 Convertible
Trim – STD, Black Vinyl Upholstery
Body – A-925, A.O. Smith Body
Paint – X-X, Goldwood Yellow

Engine Decode

5 – 1965 Year of Manufacture
102547 – Six Digit VIN Sequence Number
F – Flint, Michigan Factory
0728 – August 26 Manufacture
HT – 327 V8 Suffix Code for 350 hp Engine (hydraulic lifters)

General Overview

After more than 70 years of performance excellence, the Corvette remains among the most sought-after sports cars in the collector hobby. For 1965, the most notable update to the C2 series Corvette was the move to four-wheel disc brakes. Already benefiting from independent rear suspension in the model change, the new disc brake cars became competitive against European sports cars particularly so as offered with a range of potent engine combinations including the desirable 350 hp 327 V8 engine option which offered small block high revving power without compromising reliability for daily use.

History and Build Details of This Car

This Corvette was built in October 1964 and sold by Cone Chevrolet, Anaheim, CA on December 4, 1964. The car was finished from the factory in Goldwood Yellow, trimmed with standard black vinyl interior, and outfitted with the 350 hp 327 V8 and 4-speed manual transmission. The car remained with the first owner in Southern California and was sold to the second owner in 1974 who kept it for 35 years before selling it to the current family owners in 2009. Currently indicating just over 95,000 miles, these miles are reportedly original to the car, consistent with two prior owners and original drivetrain. In 2011 the restoration began a repaint performed in the original Goldwood yellow finish with care given to not repaint the original door inner underside jambs leaving the original yellow paint, weatherstrip, and factory glue to confirm originality. Continuing into 2012, with 87,380 miles indicated, the restoration continued under the direction of Scott Jones, Campbell, CA. The restoration included the purchase of numerous correct parts including new headlight motors, a new 492 date coded Holley 2818 carburetor, date coded 64J 37 amp alternator, new black leather seat covers, new black carpet and insulation, an NOS center console, gauge cluster rebuild, new heater box, new wire harness (including power windows), new radio harness, and the complete restoration of the interior including rechroming the seat hinges, recovering arm rest, new seatbelt webbing and rebuild for buckles, and refinishing interior items.

During the restoration, wind lace, gaskets, weatherstripping, rubber grommets, window stops, and other soft items were replaced, the wiper motor was rebuilt, new halogen lights installed, storage compartment board replaced, interior and engine finishes painted, and the engine and transmission removed for rebuilding. While the engine and transmission were out of the car, the engine compartment was refinished, the suspension also refinished, and a power steering rack installed. The engine was rebuilt beginning with hot tanking all parts, machine work, new exhaust seats and valve guides, valve job, guides cut for PC seals, heads surfaced, new valve springs, and new stainless intake and exhaust valves. The block was bored and honed .030 over with 11:1 compression and specs, new cam bearings, crank grind 10/10, comp cam for 350hp, new rod bolts and resized rods, and the rotating assembly balanced. Other engine upgrades included a Melling oil pump, ARP oil pump drive, Cloyes timing chain, Roller tip rockers, and ARP flywheel and clutch bolts. The transmission was also rebuilt including boiling, blasting and surfacing the flywheel, a new Centerforce clutch, pressure plate, new harmonic balancer and throw out hearing, and shift linkage adjustment when the transmission was reinstalled.

Numerous other details including zinc plated hardware, powder coating for several components, new fuel pump, rebuilt starter, new water pump, new fasteners, hoses, clamps, and other specific components and hardware to complete the restoration to a very high level. With the restoration completed in 2012, the car returned to Scott Jones annually for fluid changes, various service items, nut and bolt check and torquing, and other items as needed. By 2018 the owner had driven the car 92,098 miles. In 2020 with 93,240 miles recorded, a set of Uniroyal DB Touring AS 215/70 15 redline tires were installed, and a dual plane high speed balance and four-wheel alignment performed. Upgrades to the car during restoration include changing the rear end gearing to 3:55 positraction, adding power steering, knock off wheels, power windows, leather interior, Bilstein shocks all around, rear leaf spring upgrade, and a power radio antenna.

Condition Overview

Today this Corvette roadster presents in excellent condition throughout offering a beautiful stock appearance with tasteful upgrades. The Goldwood Yellow paint is glossy and properly prepared with excellent coverage throughout the body and very nice workmanship on inner strike surfaces and underside panels. The hood, doors, and trunk show very good panel gaps and proper fitting to the body, opening and closing with ease. The doors offer tight latching even when lightly closed and the power windows raise up and down smoothly. The exterior chrome and various trim, emblems, and badges are all in excellent condition. Even the vent window rubber has been replaced and looks new. The glass, lenses, and lighting have very nice factory finishes including newer rubber and gasket material replaced during the repaint in 2011 and restoration in 2012. The carefully performed restoration includes a beautiful grille, surrounding lighting, and smooth operating hidden headlights benefiting from fully rebuilt headlight motors. The cast wheels and center caps are in excellent condition with polished rim surfaces and spokes, showing no significant scratches or marks. A set of Uniroyal redline tires mounted in 202o complete the perfect stance for this beautiful roadster. Rarely seen on cars of this vintage the car still displays the original California black and yellow license plate issued in 1965.

The interior has been very fully restored using high quality black leather for the seat covers and center armrest, and an NOS center console. Every aspect of the interior is correctly presented with proper materials including the instrument panel and all correctly finished gauges. The center console, radio, and beautifully finished steering wheel further complement the performance lineage of this Corvette. The correct low pile black carpeting, interior door panels, proper fitting black convertible top and nicely detailed interior trim all come together offering a stock appearance to the sporty cockpit. The center console retains a stock shifter and original 4-speed manual transmission. The matching color hardtop is in excellent condition as well with beautiful finishes, trim, restored black headliner, and weatherstripping.

Under the hood, the 350 hp matching numbers engine displays the matching production sequence number and correct 350 hp designation on the stamping pad. The painted finishes under the hood have been correctly applied giving the car an original appearance with the added plus of powder coating, new zinc plating, and other durable modern coatings professionally applied to replicate the original finishes. The engine compartment is very crisp, detailed, and tastefully done. The underside reveals a properly restored chassis with correct features, unpainted raw fiberglass floor buckets, new fuel and brake lines, and appropriate components including Bilstein shock absorbers at all four corners. There is no visual evidence of structural compromise to the chassis or suspension mounting points.

The car starts easily and runs smoothly delivering a potent V8 sound from the 350 hp 327 V8 engine. The original 4-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly and offers stout acceleration, ideally matched to the higher horsepower engine. The added power steering makes for easier handling and the important four-wheel disc brakes, first fitted to the Corvette in this inaugural year, make for inspired performance driving. Cornering is vastly improved with the addition of Bilstein shocks at all four corners.

This beautifully restored three-owner matching numbers California Corvette roadster is ready to deliver all the power and excitement of performance motoring from the proud and potent American performance car era.

Items Included with the Car

This Corvette roadster is offered with the restored hardtop, hardtop stand, cockpit and windshield cover, indoor fleece-type car cover, a framed display placard, a CTEK battery tender, two spare Holley carburetors (one of which is reportedly the original), a scissor jack, and misc. spare parts.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608